In sports broadcasting, a sports commentator (also known as a sports announcer or sportscaster) provides a real-time live commentary of a game or event, traditionally delivered in the present tense. There are two main types of sports broadcasting: radio and television. Radio broadcasting requires the commentator to describe the action in detail because the listeners could not see it for themselves. Radio commentators use vivid descriptions to provide a captivating experience for the audience. Meanwhile, televised sports commentators are presented as a voiceover, with images of the contest shown on viewers' screens and sounds of the action and spectators heard in the background. Television commentators are rarely shown on screen during an event, though some networks choose to feature their announcers on camera either before or after the contest or briefly during breaks in the action.
Over time, sports broadcasting has developed with the advent of new technological advancements as it was originally limited to newspapers and print media. The invention of radios in the early 20th century caused a significant shift in the way the public consumed sports media enabling real-time commentary to listeners. The history of sports broadcasting dates back to April 11, 1921 when the first live radio broadcast for a sporting event was aired. This was the beginning of a new era for sports broadcasting and the way it was displayed to the public.
